BVU to Honor Nine at Founders Day Service

BVU to Honor Nine at Founders Day Service

Aug. 16, 2012

Buena Vista University will hold its 35th annual Founders Day memorial service on Saturday, Aug. 25 to honor nine deceased individuals who have served the institution as faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and friends and benefactors.

“Over the course of Buena Vista University’s 121-year history, the quality of the educational experience for our students has been made possible because of the contributions of a great many individuals who believed in the future of this institution,” says BVU President Fred Moore. “Those we honor at Founders Day this year have been an important part of that legacy.”

Inaugurated in September 1978, Founders Day has become an annual memorial service that has honored approximately 185 individuals through 2011. The service, led by Rev. Ken Meissner, university chaplain, begins at 11 a.m. at Schaller Memorial Chapel.

Those being recognized this year are:

Edward F. Bock, Cedar Rapids, was a member of the Board of Trustees (2000-2012) and a BVU benefactor. Ed attended Buena Vista College from 1934-1940, but his studies were interrupted for three years while he battled tuberculosis. He then attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a degree in commerce and started a successful career in public accounting and became a CPA in 1946. Ed became a partner in Peat, Marwick and Mitchell when it acquired the firm he was working for and he retired from the company in 1972. He served as president of the Iowa Society of CPAs in 1960. For the past 40 years, Ed was involved in entrepreneurial endeavors including radio stations, restaurants, real estate, auto dealerships and other business ventures. He was also active in community organizations. At BVU he helped establish the Henry Olson Travel Fund and endowed the Edward Bock Travel Fund. His wife of 54 years, Margaret, preceded him in death. In the latter years of his life, Ed enjoyed the company of his special friend, Joanne Hagedorn. Ed died on March 28, 2012.

Barbara Bulman, Apple Valley, Minn., was a former member of the Board of Trustees (1988-1990) and a benefactor. She graduated from Waldorf College in 1943 and from Buena Vista College in 1955, where she majored in education and psychology. She taught for 32 years in several Iowa school districts. She was active in her church, several education professional organizations and served on the BVU alumni board. In 1989, she received the Henry Olson Award from the BVU National Alumni Association. Barbara enjoyed traveling, visiting all 50 states and many foreign countries including trips to Norway to document her family’s genealogy. A sister of Winnebago Industries founder John K. Hanson, Barbara was a former member of the company’s board of directors. She and her late husband, Neil, were married in 1949. Barbara died March 31, 2012.

Dr. Mac Hornecker, Arkadelphia, Ark., was a professor of art at Buena Vista from 1971 to 2001 and received emeritus status and an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree upon his retirement. He earned an associate arts degree at Joplin Junior College in Joplin, Mo., and went on to receive a bachelor’s in fine arts degree from the Kansas City Art Institute and a master’s in fine arts degree at the University of Oklahoma, specializing in sculpture. Among his accomplishments at BVU were starting both the printmaking and graphic design programs. He was an accomplished sculptor with award-winning work in over 40 juried and invitational art shows and as well as a number of major commissioned sculptures for corporate clients. Many of his works are in private collections. Following retirement from BVU, he was an adjunct professor at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. Mac and his wife, Marie, were married in 1965. Mac died on Oct. 10, 2011.

Archie Mackay, Jr., Alta,was a well-known bagpiper who played at nearly every BVU commencement since the early 1980s and led BVU freshmen through the Victory Arch on Founders Day at the start of the academic year. In 2010, he received the Wendell Halverson Outstanding Friend Award from the BVU National Alumni Association. After graduating from Aurelia High School in 1945, Archie joined the U.S. Navy Reserves and served on active duty until 1946. He worked for the Iowa Department of Public Safety for eight years, including five years as an Iowa State Trooper based in Atlantic, and then returned to the family farm and retired at the age of 65. He and his late wife, Janice, were married in 1951. Archie died on April 16, 2012.

Dr. Floyd Pace, Alta, was a professor of education at Buena Vista from 1969 to 1991 and was honored with emeritus status upon his retirement. After serving in the Coast Guard in the 1940s he earned his bachelor’s degree from Drake University in Des Moines and received his master’s degree and PhD from Iowa State University. Prior to joining the Buena Vista faculty, he taught at high schools in Nebraska and Iowa and taught romance languages at ISU, where he also coordinated its language laboratories. At BV, he taught French and Spanish and was chair of the Humanities Department. He was a co-founder of Gingerbread House day care center in Storm Lake and was involved in civic organizations and church activities. For 30 years, he served as a lay pastor for many small churches throughout Northwest Iowa. He and his late wife, Betty married in 1944. Floyd died on Sept. 12, 2011.

V.G. “Bob” Schaffer, Naples, Fla., served on the Board of Trustees (1968 -1993) and was a BVU benefactor. He studied business and finance in college and began his career in banking in 1939. Bob served in the Navy for two years at Kearney Naval Air Station in San Diego and then returned home to Balaton, Minn. where he began his 50-year career in banking. He owned three banks, which he subsequently sold. Bob was active in the Presbyterian Church. He and his wife, Jean, were married in 1940. Bob died Dec. 16, 2011.

Estelle Siebens, Lyford Cay, New Providence, Bahamas, was the wife of the late Dr. Harold Walter Siebens. Significant gifts to Buena Vista University from Dr. Siebens and his Foundations were a catalyst for transformation of the campus and academic program over the past several decades. Estelle had a keen interest in monitoring developments in a number of philanthropic areas with educational philanthropy being foremost, including BVU’s Estelle Siebens Science Center, and philanthropic endeavors in England, Canada and Nassau. She and Dr. Siebens were married in 1952 and he died in 1989. She died on March 18, 2012.

Wendy C. Waugaman, Waukee, was a member of the Board of Trustees (2006-2012) and a benefactor. She graduated from Drake University in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and earned her law degree from Notre Dame Law School in 1985. She was president and chief executive officer of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company of Des Moines and served as a member of American Equity’s board of directors. She joined the firm in 1999 as chief financial officer and general counsel and previously served as outside corporate counsel for the company since its inception in 1995. She had been a partner in the law firm of Whitfield & Eddy where she had practiced law from 1985 to 1999. She was also a certified public accountant. Prior to joining the Board of Trustees, Wendy had been associated with BVU through her service on the President’s Advisory Council and her work for the Bright Foundation, which has funded many scholarships for BVU students from southern Iowa. At BVU she established the Wendy C. Waugaman Women and Leadership Development Award. She was also active in civic and professional organizations. She and her husband, Lou, were married in 2010. She died on June 18, 2012.

Ralph Welch, Storm Lake, was a former adjunct professor and director of student field experiences in the School of Education. Following graduation from high school in 1944 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and upon his return attended Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) and then the University of Iowa where he received his master’s degree in education. After teaching a few years, he worked for 15 years in school supply sales and then returned to teaching in Storm Lake. He also served as the elementary and junior high principal for 20 years. Ralph was involved in community activities and civic organizations. He and his wife, Helen, were married in 1951. He died on Dec. 30, 2011.